Emergency dentists are equipped to treat the most common oral injuries. This includes severe toothaches, reattaching knocked out teeth and treating soft tissue injuries. The best way to treat a toothache is to find an emergency dentist near me and call them right away. They can give you immediate care, and also help you prevent the problem from getting worse. They can also prescribe stronger pain medications if necessary.
Some issues may seem like emergencies but can be delayed until your next appointment, such as a chipped tooth without pain or bleeding. Other conditions that require immediate care include:
Toothache
Tooth pain is a common problem that many people experience. It can be caused by anything from a small cavity to an infection in the root of the tooth. While some people may be able to manage their pain at home, severe cases require treatment by an emergency dentist.
Usually, toothache is the result of inflammation in the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. This can occur because of cavities that erode the enamel and dentin, or even from issues with jaw alignment like TMJ. It can also be the result of overly aggressive dental habits, such as grinding your teeth, or from trauma like getting hit in the mouth.
Broken Tooth
A broken tooth can occur from chewing hard foods or even from a blow to the mouth. Regardless of the cause, it is a dental emergency that needs to be treated right away.
A dentist can treat the injury by filling or crowning the broken tooth. A crown is a cap that covers the entire tooth, which restores its appearance and function. Dental bonding is another way to repair a broken tooth. It involves covering the damaged tooth with a resin.
It is best to rinse the mouth with warm salt water to disinfect the area and control bleeding. Apply a cold compress or take over-the-counter pain relievers to ease the pain. If the tooth is knocked out, try to preserve it in a cup of milk or saltwater and bring it with you to your emergency dental appointment. Left untreated, a cracked or broken tooth can lead to infections or further cracks in the teeth and jaw.
Cracked Tooth
Accidents happen, and they often include damage to teeth. Whether playing a pickup game of basketball or biting down on a hard object, an injury may dislodge a tooth or cause it to crack. Prompt treatment from an emergency dentist is essential to avoiding further complications and to saving the tooth.
Often, a cracked tooth doesn’t produce symptoms until it becomes infected or the fracture opens up to allow bacteria to seep into the pulp of the tooth. This can lead to a dental abscess that may spread to your jawbone, tendons and facial muscles. Your emergency dentist will need to examine the crack in your tooth to determine its severity and what type of treatment is necessary. They can use a dental explorer to feel around the area to find the crack or take an X-ray and use a dye to make the crack stand out. If the crack is minor, they can repair it with a composite filling.
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain is often a symptom of a dental emergency and can be a sign of infections, abscesses, and other issues. It may also indicate a problem with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your upper and lower jaw.
Persistent or intermittent pain that won’t go away is an emergency. Other symptoms include throbbing, hot or cold sensitivity, and pain that radiates to the ears. If you experience these symptoms, contact us for an emergency dentist appointment.
Other causes of jaw pain include a cluster headache or sinus problems. If the pain is a result of sinuses, take over-the-counter pain relievers to help ease your discomfort.